Mote knife for carding machines



May 23, 1933. G. w. WILLISV' MOTE KNIFE FOR GARDING MACHINES File d Nov. 1 8,

1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV m'oza fi/fl minzzz, BY

iZLATIORNEY.

May 23, 1933. G. w. WILLIS 2 MOTE KNIFE FOR CARDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 23, 1933. G WILLIS 1,910,662

MOTE KNIFE FOR CARDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENroFFicE GEORGE W. WILLIS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T SACO-LOWELL SHOPS, OF NEVJTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A'CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS MOTE KNIFE FOR CARDING MACHINES Application filed November 18, 1930. Serial No. 496,381.

This invention relates to carding machines and is especially concerned with the mote knife arrangement in such machines.

As is well understood by those skilled in .5 this art, the leader of licker-in of a card draws the fibre across the edge of a knife which serves to remove knots of fibre, motes, and the like. This knife is commonly known as a mote knife. Frequently a 19 plurality of such knives are used in a card, the knives being located side by side and closely adjacent to each other.

The results produced by such knives vary materially with Very small changes in ad justment. In a typical arrangement the knife edge is set about ten thousandths of an inch from the ends of the teeth of the licker-in clothing, and a change of oneor two thousandths of an inch, plus or minus,

makes an important difference in the results produced. The angle of the knife or knives with reference to the licker-in also has an important effect, especially if a series of knives are used.

The present invention deals with these conditions. It aims to improve the supporting and adjusting means for the mote knife or knives'with a view to facilitating the adjustment of the knives to suit different kinds of cotton and to accommodate changes in conditions or requirements.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

I11 the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illuswith a mote knife arrangement embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, the left-hand part of which is taken substantially on. the line 22, Fig. 1, while the right-hand side of the figure is taken on a line of section in front of or at the left of the adjusting arm shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line. 33, Fig. 2; and

trating parts of a carding machine equipped Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the knife positioning disks.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the construction there shown comprises a carding machine cylinder indicated at 2, a licker-in 3 cooperating therewith, a feed plate 4 and a feed roll 5 for feeding the cotton or other fibre to the licker-in, these parts being constructed, arranged, and operating in substantially the usual manner.

In this construction a series of mote knives 6 is used. Each knife may be of the usual cross-sectional form and extends across the machine from one side to the other, the entire series of knives being located between the side frame pieces 7 and 8. Means are associated with each of the side frame members to support the opposite ends of the knives.

Referring first to the side frame 7 and the parts associated therewith, it will be seen that all of the knives 6 are supported on or backed up at this side of the machine by a thrust plate 10, the upper edge of this plate being notched, as shown at 12, to receive the back edges of the knives. The portions of the knives adjacent to their edges are positio'ned in V-shaped notches formed in disks 13 best shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. One of these disks is provided for each knife. Each disk is of circular outline and the entire series of disks is located in a plate 14' lying immediately behind the thrust plate 10, as best shown in Fig. 2, a series of circular holes being formed in the upper part of the plate to receive the respective disks. Both the thrust plate 10 and the plate 1 are supported 011 the eccentric portions 1515 of two bolts 0r studs 16-16 which are themselves mounted to rotate in a supporting plate 17 that is secured to the bearing box for the licker-in by screws 18, Figs. 2 and 3. The eccentric portions of these bolts 16-16 are positioned in slots 20-20, Fig. 1, formedin the thrust plate 10. The bolts also extend outwardly through holes formed in the frame piece 7, Fig. 2, and their ends are squared to receive a wrench. Nuts 21-21 are threaded 0n the bolts and bear against the outer surface of the supporting plate 17 both nuts being counter-bored at their inner ends, as shown at 22, Fig. 2.

It will thus be clear that if the bolts 1616 are given a rotative movement, both plates 10 and 1.4 will be moved simultaneously to ward or from the licker-in. Since the knives 6 are supported by these plates their ends adjacent to the frame piece 7 will be moved in unison with the plates toward or from the licker-in.

The mechanism above described is duplicated at the opposite side of the machine frame, the corresponding parts being designated by the same but primed numerals. Consequently, a similar adjustment of the opposite ends of the knives can be made by turning the adjusting bolts at the latter side of the machine.

When the knives have been moved into their properly adjusted positions they can then be held in said positions by tightening up the nuts 21-21 at the left-hand side of the machine, Fig. 2, and the corresponding nuts at the opposite side of the machine. This arrangement, therefore, facilitates the accurate adjustment of the edges of the knives toward and from the licker-in.

As above stated, the eccentric portions 1515 of the studs or bolts 1616 are lo cated in the slots 2020 in the thrust plate 10. These slots are so shaped or developed that as the plate 10 is moved toward the right or left, Fig. 1, the plates still will hold the knives 6 seated firmly in the notches of the disks 13. Such a movement of the plate obviously will change the angle of the knives with reference tothe licker-in, and serves also to vary the width of the spaces between adjacent knives. This closing or opening movement of the knives regulates the air currents flowing between the knives as well as changing the angle of the edge portion of each knife with reference to the licker-in. For example, when the knives are in the position shown in Fig. 1 they will throw out more waste than they will when at the opposite limit of their range of adjustment.

In order to facilitate the adjustment of the plate 10 it is connected by the link 24 to the lower end of an arm 25 which is secured rigidly on a rock shaft 26 that extends across the machine from one side to the other and is journaled in the frame side pieces 7 and 8. Similarly, a link 24 and arm 25, Fig. 2, connect the plate 10' with the rock shaft 26 at the opposite side of the machine. The end of this shaft where it projects through the frame is squared, as shown at 27, Fig. 2, to receive a wrench. Consequent- 1y, by turning the rock shaft 26 both plates 10 and 10 may be adjusted simultaneously to change the angle of the knives 6. The angular position of the knives may be conveniently indicated by securing a pointer 28,

Fig. 2, to the rock shaft 26 and fastening a When the desired adjustment of the plate 10 has been made the plate may then be locked in its adjusted position by bolts 3131 which are threaded into the eccentrics 1515, these bolts cooperating with Washers 3232 to clamp the plate rigidly against the plate 14. The opposite plate 10 is clamped in the same manner.

It should be noted that when the plates 10 and 10 are adjustedtochange the angle of the knives, the disks 13 and 13' which position the edge portions of the knives swingor rotate in their respective sockets in the plates 14 and 14. Since, iowever, the edge of each knife is located in line with the axes of the two disks 18-1? which support it, this angular movement of the knife does not change the position of its edge. In other words, the angular adjustment does not disturb the spacing of the edge of any knife relatively to the licker-in. It is thus possible to adjust the angles of all the knives simultaneously while still maintaining the spacing of their edges relatively to the licker-in undisturbed. Also, by adjusting the eccentrics the entire set of knives can be ad usted relatively to the licker-in to vary the spacing of the edges of the knives with reference thereto. Usually the latter adjustment is required only at rare intervals, but the angular adjustment is made very frequently in accordance with the changes in the quality of the fibre or the results desired.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. It is also contemplated that the same organization may be found useful in other machines.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a carding machine, the combination with a licker-in, of a mote knife, a support for backing up said knife, a rocking device for engaging the knife adjacent to its edge and cooperating with said support to hold the edge of the knife at a definite distance from the licker-in, means for supporting sai d rocking device, and means whereby said support may be adjusted to change the angular relationship of said knife to the licker-in, said device serving to hold said edge in a constant relationship to said licker-in notwith a licker-in, of a mote knife, a plate for backing up said knife, a rocking device for en a ing said knife adjacent to its edge and cooperating with said plate tohold the edge of the knife at a definite distance from the licker-in, means for supporting said rocking device, and means supporting said plate for adjustment to change the angle of said knife with reference to the licker-in, said device serving to hold the edge of the knife in a definite spaced relationship to the licker-in notwithstanding said change in adjustment.

3. In a carding machine, the combination with a licker-in, of a mote knife cooperating therewith, two thrust plates for engaging the back of said knife near its opposite ends, notched supporting members for engaging said knife adjacent to its edge near opposite ends thereof and cooperating with said plates to hold the edge of the knife in a definite spaced relationship to the licker-in, and means supporting said plates for adjustment to change the angle of said knife with reference to the licker in, said notched members serving to hold the edge of the knife in a definite spaced relationship to the licker-in during said adjustment without interfering with the adjusting movement.

4. A machine according to preceding claim 3 having supports at opposite sides of the machine for moving said plates and said notched members to adjust said knife toward and from said licker-in.

5. In a carding machine, the combination with a licker-in, of a mote knife cooperating therewith, two thrust plates for the back of said knife near its opposite ends, notched supporting members for engaging said knife adjacent to its edge near opposite ends thereof and cooperating with said plates to hold the edge of the knife in a definite spaced relationshio to the licker-in, and means supporting said plates and said notched members for adjustment to vary the spacing of said knife from said licker-in.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mote knife, a thrust plate for backing up said knife, a notched disk for engaging said knife near the edge thereof and cooperating with the said plate to hold the edge of the knife in a fixed and definite position, means supporting said plates for adjustment to vary the angle of said knife, and means supporting said disk for rotative movement with the knife during said adjustment.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a knife, a thrust plate for backing up said knife, a notched disk for engaging said knife near the edge thereof and cooperating with the said plate to hold the edge of the knife in a fixed and definite position, eccentric studs supporting said plate for movement to adjust the angle of said knife, means supporting said disk for rotative movement with the knife during said adjustment, said studs cooperating with the support for said disk and with said plate to adjust the plate and said support simultaneously to change the position of said knife edge, and means for locking said eccentric studs in their adjusted positions.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mote knife, two thrust plates for engaging the back of said knife nearits opposite ends, notched disks for engaging said knife near its edge at opposite ends thereof and cooperating with said plates to hold the edge of the knife in definite and fixed position, means operable to adjust said plates simultaneously to change the angle of said knife, and means for supporting said disks for rotative move ment with the knife during said adjustment.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mote knife, two thrust plates for engagifig the back of said knife near its opposite ends, notched disks for engaging said knife near its edge at opposite ends thereof and cooperating with said plates to hold the edge of the knife in a definite and fixed position, means operable to adjust said plates simultaneously to change the angle of said knife, means for supporting said disks for rotative movement with the knife during said adjustment, means adjustable to move the disk and the thrust plate at one end of the knife simultaneously to change the position of the knife edge, and additional means operable to effect a similar adjustment of the plate and disk at the opposite end of the knife.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of mote knives extending across the machine from one side to the other, two thrust plates for engaging the backs of said knives near their opposite ends, notched disks for engaging the knives adjacent to their edges at opposite ends thereof, said disks cooperating with the respective'thrust plates to holdthe edge of each knife in a fixed and definite position, means operable to move said plates simultaneously to change the angle of said knives, and supports for said disks enabling the disks to rotate with the knives during said adjustment but causing them to maintain the edge of each knife in said fixed position.

11. A machine according to preceding claim 10 having means at each side of the machine for simultaneously adjusting the thrust plate and the support for the disks at its respective side of the machine so as tochange the positions of said knives.

12. In a carding machine, the combination with a licker-in, of a mote knife, a support for backing up said knife, a rocking device for engaging the knife adjacent to its edge and cooperating with said support to hold the edge of the knife at a definite distance from the licker-in, means for supporting said rocking device, means whereby said sup port may be adjusted to change the angular relationship of said knife to the licker-in, said device serving to hold said edge in a constant relationship to said licker-in not-' withstanding the change in adjustment, and additional means for adjusting said support and said device simultaneously to change the distance between said knife edge and said licker-in.

13. In a carding machine, the combination With a lickerin, of a mote knife, a plate for backing up said knife, a rocking device for engaging said knife adjacent to its edge and cooperating With said plate to hold the edge ofthe knife at a definite distance from the licker-in, means supporting said plate for adjustment to change the angle of said knife With reference to the licker-in, said device serving to hold the edge of the knife in a definite spaced relationship to the licker-in notwithstanding said change in adjustment, and supporting means for said plate and said device adjustable to move them and the knife simultaneously toward and from the licker-in.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of mote knives extending across the machine from one side to the other, tWo thrust plates for backing up said knives near their opposite ends, each of said plates being notched to admit portions of the backs of said knives adjacent to the ends of the knives, notched disks for engaging the knives adjacent to their edges at opposite ends thereof, said disks cooperating With the respective thrust plates to hold the edge of each knife in a fixed and definite position, means operable to move said plates simultaneously to change the angle of said knives, and supports for said disks enabling the disks to rotate With the knives during said adjustment but causing them to maintain the edge of each knife in said fixed position.

GEORGE WV. WILLIS. 

